Ariane Smith’s practice focuses primarily on complex commercial litigation and insurance defense.  She assists in the prosecution of a wide array of matters, including but not limited to, business contractual disputes,  breach of corporate fiduciary and other statutory duties, mismanagement of companies, and arbitration proceedings.  She also represents insurance companies and insureds in coverage and property damage matters.

Prior to joining Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, Ariane Smith clerked for the Honorable Marcia Morales Howard, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division, where she primarily assisted in section 2255 habeas corpus matters concerning Sixth Amendment constitutional issues.  She then worked at a local insurance defense firm for several years where she represented insurance companies and insureds in first and third-party coverage actions, bad faith litigation, uninsured motorist defense, and global settlements.

Ms. Smith is a member of the Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the  Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.  She is particularly active in the Bar Bulletin and Law Week committees within the Jacksonville Bar Association.

Ms. Smith received her B.A. at the University of Florida in 2009, with a double major in English and Sociology.  She then went on to receive her J.D. at the University of Florida in 2012, where she also served as a Managing Editor of the Florida Law Review and judicial intern for the Honorable Susan B. Kirkland, Administrative Law Judge for the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ms. Smith is admitted to practice in Florida.  She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Southern, and Northern Districts of Florida.